Bobby Ryan scored the shootout winner as the Ottawa Senators defeated the Philadelphia Flyers 2-1 Sunday night— but the hero was once again Andrew Hammond.
Hammond, making his third-straight start, stopped 27 shots to improve his record to 10-0-1 in his first 11 NHL starts. He has allowed 16 goals in those 11 contests.
The Senators have now won their last three outings as they continue their quest for a playoff spot.
Jean-Gabriel Pageau scored the lone goal in regulation for the Senators (33-24-11).
Jakub Voracek scored for the Flyers (29-27-15) as Ray Emery, making his first appearance since Feb. 19, faced 28 shots.
It was a highly entertaining third period as both teams looked to break a 1-1 tie.
Ottawa could only shake its head as Milan Michalek rang one of the post with seconds remaining in regulation. Curtis Lazar and Kyle Turris also missed fantastic opportunities, but the Flyers were just as unlucky as Matt Read was stopped midway through the period and Vorachek missed on a great back-door opportunity.
Ottawa opened the scoring at the five-minute mark of the second as Pageau picked up a Mark Borowiecki rebound in mid-air and beat Emery in front of 17, 730 at Canadian Tire Centre.
The Flyers then created some good pressure and were rewarded as Voracek beat Hammond glove side midway through the period.
Despite it being scoreless, the first remained entertaining as both Hammond and Emery made a number of big saves.
The Senators are back in action Tuesday night as they head to Carolina to take on the Hurricanes.
Notes— D Eric Gryba and C Colin Greening were healthy scratches. LW Clarke MacArthur and Robin Lehner remain sidelined with concussions. The Senators were also without D Chris Phillips (wear and tear), RW Chris Neil (fractured thumb) and Zack Smith (fractured wrist). The Flyers were without C R. J. Umberger (abdominal, day-to-day) and D Michael Del Zotto (upper-body, day-to-day). D Brandon Manning and C Nick Cousins were healthy scratches.